Chapter 1

Summary

• The protagonist of the chapter, a biracial journalist named Monique, is called into the office of her editor, Frankie, at the magazine where they both work.
• Frankie informs Monique that renowned film star Evelyn Hugo's representatives have requested an exclusive feature interview, potentially relating to an upcoming gown auction to benefit the American Breast Cancer Foundation.
• To Monique's astonishment, Frankie tells her that Evelyn has specifically requested that she - a relative newcomer to the magazine - conduct the interview.
• Frankie speculates that this may be due to Monique's lesser clout within the industry, suggesting that Evelyn and her team might believe they can control Monique and thus the narrative of the feature.
• When Frankie questions if Monique has a personal connection to Evelyn - she does not - and then asks if Monique has the courage to stand up to the movie star during the interview, Monique realizes the potential professional opportunity before her.
• This is a chance for her to advance her journalism career, which has mostly involved unimportant pieces and puff jobs to this point. By successfully interviewing Evelyn Hugo, she may finally be able to produce a piece of significant merit and make a name for herself.
• Monique asserts her ability to handle the interview, to which Frankie responds favorably. She calls on Monique to do well for the sake of the magazine and for her own career.
• Frankie also suggests that Evelyn might have been drawn to Monique because of a piece she wrote on physician-assisted suicide, and advises her to use this opportunity to prove her quality as a writer.